Former Defense Secretary Bob Gates Passed Out While Listening To The Australian Prime Minister

AP

There's been a lot of talk about the upcoming book written by former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates - especially surrounding his criticism of President Obama's strategy in Afghanistan, and his scathing critique of Joe Biden on foreign policy.

Much of the focus has been domestic, but there's a new story emerging from the land down under - specifically Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who gets a mention in Gates' book "Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War."

Gates recalls "awkward moments" during his trip to Australia in 2008, shortly after he had slipped on ice outside his home and broke his shoulder in three places (Luckily, it didn't require surgery).

The Sydney-Morning Herald has more:

"At a very nice dinner given in my honour by Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd, I was doing fine at table conversation until Rudd began a long soliloquy on the history of Australia. I had made it just past World War I when the combined effect of a painkiller, jet lag, and a glass of wine caused me to fall asleep," Dr Gates writes.

"This led to not-so-subtle attempts by my American colleagues at the table to rouse me."

Despite the nap (and the former Prime Minister's notorious temper), Dr Gates said that Mr Rudd was "very gracious about the whole thing".

While Rudd's speech may have been a snoozer, his colleagues had fun with him afterwards: "They took raucous delight in making fun of my undiplomatic snooze," he writes.

Gates' highly-anticipated book - set for release on Jan. 14 - will recall his time serving at the Pentagon under Bush and Obama and is sure to be a must read for national security nerds.